Civil Liberties Privacy Office

To Submit A Complaint

The Civil Liberties and Privacy Office reviews, assesses, and, where appropriate, investigates complaints and other information indicating possible abuses of civil liberties and privacy in the administration of ODNI programs and operations.

If you wish to report a potential civil liberties and privacy violation or file a complaint, please provide a written detailed description of the incident and surrounding circumstances, and include copies of any unclassified documentation pertaining to the matter.

The information should be mailed to:
Office of the Director of National Intelligence
ATTN: Civil Liberties and Privacy Office
Washington, DC, 20511

Please note:

• The Civil Liberties Protection Officer's statutory duty to review, assess, and investigate complaints extends only to the administration of programs and operations of the ODNI. Accordingly, if your concern involves a program or operation administered by another U.S. Government department or agency, please submit your concern directly to that entity. Depending on the subject matter, your complaint may be referred to the IC Office of Inspector General or to another U.S. Government department or agency, such as the Department of Justice, to conduct an investigation as appropriate.
• No action constituting a reprisal, or threat of reprisal, will be made against a Federal employee for making a complaint or for disclosing information to the Civil Liberties and Privacy Office that indicates a possible violation of civil liberties or privacy protections in the administration of ODNI programs and operations, unless the complaint is made or the information is disclosed with the knowledge that it was false or made with willful disregard for its truth or falsity.

Civil Liberties Privacy Office

Civil Liberties and Privacy Framework*

Rules

• United States Constitution
• National Security Act of 1947, as amended
• Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, as amended
• Privacy Act of 1974, as amended
• Freedom of Information Act, as amended
• E-Government Act of 2002
• Federal Information Security Management Act
• Executive Order 12333, as amended, United States Intelligence Activities
• Attorney General Guidelines Implementing Executive Order 12333
• Office of Management and Budget Guidelines
• Information Sharing Environment Guidelines

Partner Offices and Institutions

• Congress
• Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board
• Intelligence Oversight Board
• Department of Justice
• Offices of General Counsel
• Offices of Inspectors General
• Senior Agency Officials for Privacy
• Privacy, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Offices

* The above list is not meant to be exhaustive. There are also multiple laws, regulations and policies that apply to specific agencies, activities, and types of data that form a part of this infrastructure. References that are not highlighted can be found in the IC Legal Reference Book.

Civil Liberties Privacy Office

Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004
(Title I of Public Law 108-458; 118 Stat. 3688)

Sec. 103D. (codified as 50 USC 403-3d of the National Security Act of 1947)

(a) Civil Liberties Protection Officer.

(1) Within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, there is a Civil Liberties Protection Officer who shall be appointed by the Director of National Intelligence.

(2) The Civil Liberties Protection Officer shall report directly to the Director of National Intelligence.

(b) Duties. The Civil Liberties Protection Officer shall-

(1) ensure that the protection of civil liberties and privacy is appropriately incorporated in the policies and procedures developed for and implemented by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the elements of the intelligence community within the National Intelligence Program;

(2) oversee compliance by the Office and the Director of National Intelligence with requirements under the Constitution and all laws, regulations, Executive orders, and implementing guidelines relating to civil liberties and privacy;

(3) review and assess complaints and other information indicating possible abuses of civil liberties and privacy in the administration of the programs and operations of the Office and the Director of National Intelligence and, as appropriate, investigate any such complaint or information;

(4) ensure that the use of technologies sustain, and do not erode, privacy protections relating to the use, collection, and disclosure of personal information;

(5) ensure that personal information contained in a system of records subject to section 552a of title 5, United States Code (popularly referred to as the "Privacy Act"), is handled in full compliance with fair information practices as set out in that section;

(6) conduct privacy impact assessments when appropriate or as required by law; and

(7) perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Director of National Intelligence or specified by law.

(c) Use of agency Inspectors General. When appropriate, the Civil Liberties Protection Officer may refer complaints to the Office of Inspector General having responsibility for the affected element of the department or agency of the intelligence community to conduct an investigation under paragraph (3) of subsection (b).

Civil Liberties and Privacy Office

Who We Are

The IC must exemplify America's values: operating under the rule of law, consistent with Americans' expectations for protection of privacy and civil liberties, respectful of human rights, and in a manner that retains the trust of the American people." - National Intelligence Strategy, August 2009

The office is led by the Civil Liberties Protection Officer, a position established by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. Reporting directly to the Director of National Intelligence, the Civil Liberties Protection Officer oversees compliance with civil liberties and privacy requirements within the ODNI and ensures that civil liberties and privacy protections are incorporated into policies and procedures developed and implemented by the elements of the Intelligence Community.

The Civil Liberties and Privacy Office (CLPO) ensures that the IC operates in a manner that advances national security while protecting the freedoms, civil liberties, and privacy rights guaranteed by the Constitution and federal law.

What’s New

In furtherance of its strategic goal to enhance transparency into the IC’s civil liberties and privacy protections, CLPO has issued an Information Paper on the updated National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) Guidelines.

This information paper describes how the updated guidelines incorporate safeguards and oversight mechanisms into NCTC’s processes for identifying terrorism information in appropriate U.S. government datasets that may be lawfully shared with NCTC.

Civil Liberties and Privacy Office

What We Do

Drawing on a broad legal and policy framework, and in concert with partner offices and institutions, the CLPO provides oversight, advice, guidance, education, and training. CLPO engages in public outreach and communication initiatives that foster awareness of how the IC accomplishes its intelligence mission while protecting Constitutional values.

The CLPO also reviews, assesses, and, where appropriate, investigates complaints and other information indicating possible abuses of civil liberties and privacy in the administration of ODNI programs and operations.

• IRTPA and CLPO duties
• Framework
• Submit a Complaint